Interchangeable-unit car



EV I 5 I H. W. KIRCHNER.

lNTERCHANGEA BLE UNIT CAR.

APPLICATION FILED 05c, 22. 19M.

1,349,209. at ted Aug. 10, 1920.

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/ E E a] 6'. A U v lf'n rF'n A m n A H. W. KIRCHNER.

INTERCHANGEABLE UNIT CAR.

APPLICATION FILED 05012, 1917.

Patented Aug. 10, 1920.

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H. W. KIRCHNER.

INTERCHANGEABLE UNIT CAR.

APPLICATION FILED 02c 22, 1911.

Patented Aug. 10, 1920.

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Ewell/0r flag/y /4. Kira/mar #1 22 H. w. KIRCHNER.

INTERCHANGEABLE UNIT CAR.

APPLICATION FlLED DEC122, 1917.

1 349, 209 Patented Aug. 10, 1920.

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omen sr 're-s PATENT. omen HENRY w. KIMHNE'R, or M. LOUIS, mssormr, nssIeNonTo RIVER AND nan. TRANSPORTATION COMPANY, or en LOUIS, MISSOURI, A 00320311 p OKLAHOMA,

IN ERCHA GEABLE-UNIT can.

Specification of Letters Patent. Pate t d A 10 192 Application filed December 22, 1917. Ser1a1 No. 208,368.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY W. KIROHNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri have invented a certain new and useful lmprovement in Interchangeable-Unit Cars, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates toimprovements in means for transporting and facilitating the handling while in transit, of material such as grain, coal, ore and the like, the principal object of my invention being to generally improve upon the present methods of handling freight which is transported by means of carriers, such as railway cars, barges and the like, my present invention being an improvement u on the constructions disclosed in my nited States Letters Patent Nos. 885,162, 922,293, 997,300,

1,026,752, and my copending application filed April 21,1915, Serial Number 22,822

' now Patent No. 1,252,810, issued January 8, I 1918.

My invention contemplates the provision of a carrier such as a railway car, barge, truck or the like, and a plurality of containers which are removably and interchangeably positioned on the carrier frame, and

which containers are adapted to bereadil shifted to and from the carrier at the loa ing points and likewise at the points of discharge.

My improved construction obviates thegeneral practice of storing freight in bulk or in a single mass for transportation on carriers, and permits the load or cargo to be divided up and-stored in convenient quantities in receptacles which are susceptible of being easily and quickly handled.

A further object of my invention is to equip a car body with readily removable interchangeable containers which are normally closed at their lower ends by gravity doors, which latter, when released, swing open to permit the rapid discharge of the contents of said containers, and further, "to provide readily accessible'and easily operated-means for locking the doors of the con-- tainers while in closed position.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel features ofjconstruction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described and cla1med, and illustrated in the accompanymgpdrawings, in whichigure 1 is a plan view of the end portion of a railway car constructed'in accordance w1th my lnventlon andwith a plurality of the mterchangeable containers positioned thereupon.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the end portion of a car and the containers carried thereby.

Fig. 3 is'a vertical section taken approximately through the center of one of the contalners.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken approximately on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 1s an enlarged cross section taken approximately on the line 5--5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of the door locking mechanism.

ig. 7 is an enlar ed vertical section taken approximately on t e line 77 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 81s a perspective view of a part of the door locking mechanism.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged transverse section taken approximately on the line 9-9 of ig. 10 is a plan view of a road wagon or truck whichis adapted to hold two of the containers forming. a part of my invention.

Flg. 11 is a cross section taken approximatelty on the line 11-11 of Fig. 10.

Re erring by numerals to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a practical embodiment of my invention, 10 designatesthe body of a flat car which is preferably constructed of metal and mounted on suittainer comprlses a pair of side walls 12, a

pair of end walls 13, and a top wall 14, all

of said walls being preferably constructed 110 from heav sheet metal and secured at their meeting e ges by means of rivets or in any suitable manner.

Fixed to and, extending upwardly from 5 the top plate or wall 14 and at the sides of each container are relatively large perforated ears 15 which are adapted to be engaged by a rod or hook carried by a crane or like lifting mechanism which is utilized for shifting the containers to and from the car body.

Formed in the top plate 14 and preferably near the center thereof is an opening 16 through which the lading of the receptacle is delivered and said opening is normally closed by a readily removable cover plate 17. The side walls 12 are reinforced and stiffened by means of angle bars 18 applied to their outer faces and secured by rivets 20 or like fastening devices, and likewise the end walls 13 are reinforced and stiffened by externally arranged vertically disposed angle bars 19.

Secured to theend walls 13 and arranged between the lower portions of the stiffening members 19 are horizontally disposed angle bars or rails 20, which are adapted to rest on the side rails of a road wagon or truck which is utilized for handling one or two of the 80 containers and which will hereinafter be more fully described.

Secured to the inner faces of the side and end walls 12 and 13 and near the bottoms thereof are reinforcing members 21-, the same 85 being formed of angle bars or the like. Ar-

ranged between the side walls 12 and in a plane just above the reinforcing members 21 is a comparatively small tubular housing 22, the same being preferably rectangular in cross section. This housing is disposed at a point midway between the end walls 13 and formed through the side walls 12 and communicating with the chamber within said housing are apertures 23.

Arranged in the housing 22 is a pair of bars 24, the same being arranged for sliding movement through suitable keepers 25 which latter are secured to one of the walls of the housing, and the outer portions of these bars extend through the openings 23, and their outer ends terminating in enlarged hammering heads 26. The inner ends of these bars terminate at points adjacent to the center of housing 22 and said inner ends are pivotally 56 connected to links 27, the latter being pivotally connected to the ends of a lever 28. This lever is pivoted at a central point to one of the walls of the housing 22 and as said lever is swung upon its pivot or fulcrum,

bars 24 will be simultaneously moved towardv or away from each other as the case may be. Connected by suitable hinges 29 ,to the lower edges of the end walls 13 are the outer edges of drop bottom doors 30 formed of sheet metal or the like and reinforced by means of angle bars 31 or thelike, which lat ter are secured in position on the inner faces of said doors. These doors are constructed so that their free edges meet at a point midway between the end walls 13 and likewise 70 at a point directly beneath housing 22. Secured to the sides of these doors at points near their meeting edges are upwardly projecting ears32 and projecting outwardly therefrom are lugs or pins 33. 75

Fixed to the lower portions of the side walls 12 and at points immediately below the openings 23 are brackets 34 and hinged thereto are the upper portions of latching plates 35. i 30 Formed integral with or fixed to the upper portion of each plate and projecting upwardly and outwardly therefrom is an arm 36, the upper end of which is pivotally connected to the outer portion of the corresponding bar 24. The lower corners of each plate 35 are cut away to form curved seats 37 and formed integral with or fixed to the lower portion of each plate between these seats is a lug 38 which provides a hammerin surface.

ivotally mounted on pins 39 which are positioned immediately below the ends of the bracket 34 are latching members 40, the inner upper ends of which are curved as designated by 41 so as to fit snugl against the curved seats 37 on plate 35. The outer end portions of these latching members are weighted as designated by 42 and said weighted outer ends are provided with upwardly projecting hooks 43 which are adapted to engage beneath the pins 33' on the ears 32.

The means utilized for locking the removable containers on the car body comprises rock shafts 44 which are transversely disposed on the body of the car to the sides of the running board 11 which rock shafts are journaled in suitable bearings on the car body and provided with crank portions 45 which are adapted to be swung upward into engagement with hooks 46, the latter being secured to and projecting outwardly from the end walls of the containers. Practically this same form of retaining means is disclosed in my copending application hereinbefore mentioned. v

In Figs. 10 and 11 I have illustrated a unit conveying member in the form of a truck or road wagon which can be operated under its own power or as the trailer for a motor truck. This truck includes a substantially rectangular frame 47, preferably of such size as to accommodate two of the containers, and projecting inwardly from the side rails of the truck frame are flanges 48 uponwhich the angle bars 20 of the con tainer are adapted to rest.

When the containers are loaded for transportation, the freight such as grain, coal,

are or the like is delivered into the contaiher through opening 16 in the top thereof, it being understood that the doors 30 are in closed position andso held by the engagement 0 the books 43 beneath the 'pins 33, and the members 40 beingheld in latching position b plates 35.

After t e containers are filled, the removable covers 17 are placed in a position to close the openings 16 and the containers are now lifted by suitable means, such as a crane or derrick and placed on the car body beside the running board 11. (See Figs. 1 and 2.) The containers are firmly secured to the car body by proper manipulation of the rock shafts-44 and the car or barge thus loaded is ready for movement to the destination oint or points.

It will be un erstood that any one of the containers can be removed at a way-station by lifting it from the car body with a derrlck, crane or the like, and another container, -either filled or empty, can be positioned on the car body in place of the receptacle which has been removed. This arran ment permits the way freight to be rea ily and economically handled or, if the entire load of a car or several cars is to be shipped from one point to another, the work incident to the handling of the lading at both shipping point and destination is greatly facilitated.

To discharge the, contents of a container, the same is li ted into position above a bin, hopper, wagon or the like, and the head 26 on the outer end of either one of the rods 24 is .struck with a hammer or the like, thereb simultaneously moving the two rods towar each other through the connections 27 and 28 and at the same time swinging the plates outwardly and upwardly as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 5. As this action takes place, latching members 40. will swing into vertical position under the downward pressure of pins 33, and thus the drop bottom doors 30 will swing downward, thereby (permitting the contents of the container to lscharge.

In the event that it is desired to move one or more of the containers upon a truck or the like, the container while in loaded condition is placed on the frame 47 of the truck with the bars 20 resting on the side rails of said frame or upon the flanges 48 projecting inwardly therefrom, and when so positioned, it is possible to release the drop bottom doors to permit the discharge of the contents of the container. This truck can be driven under its own power or it can be utilized'as the trailer of a motor truck.

Interchangeable unit cars of my improved construction are comparatively simple, and by their use the handling and trans ortation of freight is greatly facilitated, or by the use of the unit system, the containers can be filled at a mine, warehouse, manufacturin plant or the like, then placed on one of t e es ecially designed car bodies, and after the atter has reached its destination, the containers can be readily removed and conveyed to the warehouses or other point where the freight is to be stored or discharged. The containers being practically Water-proof are particularly desirable for use in the transportation of grain or like material which would be affected by rain snow or the like.

Obviously the construction and arrange ment herein described, admit of considerable modification without departing from the nature and spirit of my invention. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction and arrangement shown.

I claim:

1. The combination with a car body, of a plurality of interchangeable containers removably positioned on said body, a pair of drop bottom doors normally closing the lower. end of each of the containers, door locking means arranged on the sides of the containers and means extending through the lower portion of each container for simultaneously releasing the door locking means.

2. In a car of the class described, a removable container, a pair of drop bottom doors closing the lower end of said container,

means for locking both sides of both doors,

means extending through the lower portion of the container for releasing said locking means, the top of said container being provided with an opening, and a cover normally closing said opening.

3. In a car of the class described, a removable container, a pair of dro bottom doors closing the lower end thereo means on the sides of the container for engaging and locking the doors in closed position, and means extending through the container for simultaneously releasing the locking means.

4. In a car of the class described, a removable container comprising four walls, a top, and a pair of drop bottom doors, vertically disposed reinforcing members externally arranged onthe walls of the container, and

horizontally disposed rails arranged between the reinforcing members on the end walls of said container near the bottom thereof.

5. In a car of the class described, a removable container comprising four walls a top, and a pair of drop bottom doors, locking means for both sides of both doors, there being an opening in the top of the container, and a readily removable cover for said opening.

6. In a car of the class described, a removable container comprising four walls, a top, and a pair of drop bottom doors, locking means for both sides of both doors, and a pair of ears projecting upwardly from the top of said container near the sides thereof, which ears serve as points of attachment for the container lifting means.

7. In a car of the class described, a removable container, drop bottom doors normally closing the bottom of said container, latching means on the container for engaging the sides of the doors, and means extending through the lower portion of the container for simultaneously releasing the latching means.

8. In a car of the class described, a removable container, a pair of drop bottom doors normally closing the lower end thereof, latching members arranged on the sides of the container for engaging the sides of the doors, and holding the same in closed position, locking plates adapted to engage the pairs of latching members, and means for simultaneousl actuating. the locking plates to release said latching members.

9. In a car of the class described, a removable container, a top therefor, said top being provided with a normally closed opening, ears projecting upwardly from the top of the container, which ears serve as points of attachment; for'the container lifting means, a pair of drop bottom doors normally closing the bottom of the container, pairs of latching members arranged on the sides of the container for engaging the sides of the doors when closed, and means for simultaneously releasing said latching means to permit the doors to open.

10. In a car of the class described, a removable container, drop bottom doors for normally closing the lower end of said container, ears projecting upwardly from the sides of said doors, and latching members on the sides of the container for engaging said ears.

11. In a car of the class described, a removable container, drop bottom doors for normally closing the lower end of said container, ears projecting upwardly from the sides of said doors, latching members on the I sides of the container for engaging said ears, and a locking plate adapted to engage each pair of latching members while the same are in engagement with said cars.

12. In a car of the class described, a removable container, drop bottom doors for normally closing the lower end of said container, ears projecting upwardly from the sides of said doors, latching members on the sides of the container for engaging said ears, a locking plate adapted to engage each pair of latching members while the same are in engagement with said ears, and means for simultaneously actuating the locking plates to release the pairs of latching members.

' 13. The combination with a carrier body, of a plurality of interchangeable containers, removably positioned on said body, each container having a top plate provided with a normally closed 0 emng, a air of drop bottom doors normal y closingt e lower end of each container and means for locking of a plurality of interchangeable containers removably positioned on said body, each container having a top plate provided with a normally closed opening, a pair of drop bottom doors normally closing the lower end of each container, means for locking both sides of said doors to the container, and means for locking each container on the car body.

16. The combination With a carrier body, of a plurality of interchangeable containers removably 'positioned on said body, each container having a top plate provided with a normally closed opening, a pair of drop bottom doors normally closing the lower end of each container, means for locking said doors in closed position, means extending through. the lower portion of the container for releasing said locking means, and means for locking each container on the car body.

17. In a car of the class described, a removable container having a normally closed top, a portion of which is removable for the purpose of gaining access to the interior of the container, a pair of drop bottom doors normally closing the bottom of said container, means for locking both sides of said doors to the body of the container, and means for simultaneously releasing said locking means.

18. In a car of the class described, a removable container having a normally closed top, and drop bottom doors normally closing the bottom of said container, which doors when in open position provide an opening having dimensions equal to' the internal horizontal dimensions of the container.

19. The combination with a carrier body, of a plurality of interchangeable containers removably positioned on said body, each container having a normally closed top, and a pair of drop bottom doors normally closing the bottom of said container, the length and combined width of said doors equaling the width and length of the container.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature this 19th day of December, 1917.

HENRY w.- KIRCHNER, 

